US $5.95 • Can $7.95 - O scale trains

TractionTractionRoger JenkinsActionActionThis month we will talk about gettingyour trolleys to run better. The biggest problemwith cars produced lately is they areall insulated for 2 rail operation. In order toimprove track pickup, we need to groundall 8 wheels. I have discovered a miracleproduct called Nickel Print Coating (by GCElectronics, a division of G.C. Thorsen, Inc.,1801 Morgan St., Rockford, IL 61102-2690). I found it at an electronic store. It sellsfor about $35 a bottle. This liquid metalneeds to be stirred up and shaken as it congealson the bottom. It can then be paintedover the insulated joint between axles andwheels on each truck. Make sure any oil isremoved from these surfaces before painting,or the coating will peel off.It really works well and improves operationor cars over street tracks or open track100%.Making your cars run both ways ifthey are double enders is tricky, but easilydone. Isolate the plus and minus wires tothe motor. Run the ground wire to one polebase and the other wire to the opposite polebase. The pole hooks are connected togetherand to the trucks (see diagram).Whichever pole is under the hookwill operate the car in that direction. Youwill have to figure out which motor leaddoes this. Placing one pole on the wirewill give you the power to run forward.Changing the poles will reverse the direction.With both poles down under thehooks it won’t run.Another few words on power stations.The latest development in power was the+– MotorIgnitron rectifier that used tubes to convertAC to DC. The Seashore Trolley Museumpicked up one of these units in a 10 ft. by10 ft. building from the Cedar Rapids andIowa City Railway after they quit operationson May 30, 1953. The unit ran okay untilone of the tubes failed and they discoveredit would cost $10,000 to replace it. The unitwas retired at that point, the museum nothaving the funds. Other power setups wereused after this, but eventually new tubeswere donated and this is used in reservenow. Newer light rail lines use small buildingsalong their lines every six miles or so,but I’m not sure what is inside these. Morethan likely a more modern electronics setupto convert ACpower to thec o m m o n l yused 550-750 volt DC.◆22 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’04